Abstract
Aims: This programme of work was stimulated by a gap in knowledge identified in research, policy and practice literature and aimed to develop an item bank to screen for and assess the continuum of alcohol risk and harm in adolescents.
Methods: The project adopted a sequential mixed methods design integrating thematic and advanced psychometric analyses. Semi-structured interviews with 44 adolescents in a range of UK settings including: schools, supported accommodation, criminal justice settings, community groups; were conducted to develop and refine item content for screening and assessing alcohol use and consequences identified in a meta-analysis conducted by the authors. The resultant 65 items produced were completed by 381 adolescents, and the 33 items brought forward from this exploratory stage were then tested with 827 adolescents.
Results: Exploratory analysis indicated that an item based on heavy episodic drinking is most predictive of full AUDIT score > 8 for screening.The new assessment items have an alpha of 0.92 (adjusted for 10 items), outperforming the best existing instruments. Confirmatory categorical structural equation modelling supported the exploratory results with the best performing screening item: (In the last 3 months) on how many days did you have six or more drinks on the same occasion?The assessment items demonstrated excellent model fit: CFI = 0.99, TLI = 0.99, RMSEA = 0.059 (90% CI: 0.056-0.062) with an alpha value of 0.87 (adjusted for 10 items).
Conclusions: The significance of this new item bank for screening and assessing alcohol-related consequences in adolescents, recommendations for further validation and applicability to different practice settings will be discussed.
Methods: The project adopted a sequential mixed methods design integrating thematic and advanced psychometric analyses. Semi-structured interviews with 44 adolescents in a range of UK settings including: schools, supported accommodation, criminal justice settings, community groups; were conducted to develop and refine item content for screening and assessing alcohol use and consequences identified in a meta-analysis conducted by the authors. The resultant 65 items produced were completed by 381 adolescents, and the 33 items brought forward from this exploratory stage were then tested with 827 adolescents.
Results: Exploratory analysis indicated that an item based on heavy episodic drinking is most predictive of full AUDIT score > 8 for screening.The new assessment items have an alpha of 0.92 (adjusted for 10 items), outperforming the best existing instruments. Confirmatory categorical structural equation modelling supported the exploratory results with the best performing screening item: (In the last 3 months) on how many days did you have six or more drinks on the same occasion?The assessment items demonstrated excellent model fit: CFI = 0.99, TLI = 0.99, RMSEA = 0.059 (90% CI: 0.056-0.062) with an alpha value of 0.87 (adjusted for 10 items).
Conclusions: The significance of this new item bank for screening and assessing alcohol-related consequences in adolescents, recommendations for further validation and applicability to different practice settings will be discussed.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Article number | O14 |
| Journal | Addiction Science and Clinical Practice |
| Volume | 18 |
| Issue number | Suppl 1 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - 13 Apr 2023 |
| Event | 18th Annual Conference of the International Network on Brief Interventions for Alcohol and Other Drugs (INEBRIA) - Edinburgh, United Kingdom Duration: 21 Sept 2022 → 23 Sept 2022 https://inebria.net/meetings-and-activities/conference/past/18th-annual-conference-of-inebria-21st-23rd-september-2022-edinburgh-scotland/ |
